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If the mentor says “no,” thank them politely and consider asking for a referral or being considered for future opportunities.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},161253,1788095012,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,88,93,98,103,108,113,117,122],{"id":84,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":89,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":90,"show_sort_weight":91,"slug":92},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":94,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":104,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":109,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},18,30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":127},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":114,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":30,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":79,"read_time":22},549768702563,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/8000c4aa63b76e948b?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786536092046926083","Tips for contacting potential mentors:\nResearch the potential mentor as best you can before you contact them. It’s good practice to mention how your interests and career goals align with the mentor’s research (1-2 sentences). Be specific while remaining concise. Short, enthusiastic, and to the point is best!\nOutline what your interest in working with the mentor is (e.g., advertised pairing from F&W Mentorship Program page, honors thesis, or independent research project?) and your availability/commitment to the research (how many hours/week? One term? Possibility of extension?)\nProofread you email for grammar/simple errors before sending. Typing out your email in Word before copying to the body of an email is a great way to catch errors. So is reading your email aloud!\nAttach your resume or CV to introduce yourself to the potential grad mentor. Be sure to include relevant coursework, expected graduation date, and any work or research experience. And don’t worry - everyone starts with minimal experience!\nSend your initial email from your @oregonstate.edu email address (if you have one). This will help keep your email from getting lost in the spam folder.\nGraduate students (and postdocs, research faculty, and PIs) are often quite busy, but that does not mean they aren’t excited to speak with interested undergraduates. Be prepared to contact multiple prospective mentors when finding a position. It’s okay to send a follow up email if you did not hear back after one week but contact a different mentor if there is still no response. Unfortunately, not every mentor that you contact will be able to take you on as a research mentee. If a mentor you are quite keen on says “no”, send them a polite thank you and consider asking them to refer you to a colleague that might have an opening or asking to be considered when future opportunities arise. This can help you build a reputation and relationship with OSU researchers!\nThings to avoid:\nWhile researching the prospective mentor is highly encouraged, avoid copying and pasting information from their research interests/bios directly into your email – this is always obvious to the recipient, especially if you carryover formatting! Prospective mentors are much more likely to respond if you take the time to write an email in your own words.\nStill need help getting connected with a mentor?\nThere are additional resources at OSU’s Undergradute Research webpage here: \u0013 HYPERLINK \"https://undergraduate.oregonstate.edu/research/resources/students\" \u0014https://undergraduate.oregonstate.edu/research/resources/students\u0015\nYou can also fill out an application for the F&W Mentorship Program using the “Apply Now” button on the program homepage. The program coordinators are also available to help you at any time!\nExample Initial Contact Email:\nHi Awesome Grad Mentor,\nI am interested in working with you as an undergraduate mentee. I am very interested in the aquatic system.  I recently took the Freshwater Ecology course and am very excited at the prospect of getting hands-on experience working with you to analyze stream samples. I would like to start working with you in Winter term, and can commit to spending ten hours a week on this research. I have attached my resume for your review.\nI look forward to speaking with you about this further.\nSincerely,\nEager Undergraduate Mentee\n\u000f\nDear Jane Doe\u0005,\nI am writing to express interest in working with you as an undergraduate student researcher. I saw your posting on the Fisheries and Wildlife Undergraduate Mentorship Program page \u0005and I am quite keen to work with you\u0005. I am broadly interested in the research themes of population connectivity and marine systems\u0005. My research interests pair nicely with your recent research on tagging albatross.\nI would like to being working with you on the advertised work, analysing tag data. I am detail-oriented, hardworking, and hope to develop an independent research project with you after the completion of the advertised project, if you ","cbCaibj7uKWUeXv8","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibj7uKWUeXv8","docx",25289,"English","# Tips for contacting potential mentors\n## What to include\n## Proofreading and contact details\n## Availability, commitment, and follow-up\n# Things to avoid\n# Additional resources at OSU\n# Example initial contact emails","[{\"question\":\"What key information should be included in an initial email to a potential mentor?\",\"answer\":\"Mention how your interests and career goals align with the mentor’s research in 1–2 sentences, specify why you want to work with them, and state your availability/commitment (e.g., hours per week and term).\"},{\"question\":\"How should a prospective mentee introduce themselves and document their background?\",\"answer\":\"Attach a resume or CV and include relevant coursework, expected graduation date, and any work or research experience so the mentor can quickly assess fit.\"},{\"question\":\"What should you do if you don’t hear back or a mentor declines?\",\"answer\":\"If there is still no response after one week, send a follow-up to a different mentor. If the mentor says “no,” thank them politely and consider asking for a referral or being considered for future opportunities.\"}]","Still need help getting connected with a mentor? | DOCX"]